Airline Policies Compared: How Eight Carriers Name and Limit Fares
Fare names and rules differ by airline and shift over time. This table gives you the vocabulary and the questions to ask, not the final answer for your ticket. If you want help with your own booking, call 1-855-365-0395.
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At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Airlines | Delta, American, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, Air Canada, Lufthansa |
| Shows | Entry-level fare names and what to verify |
| Caution | Always confirm on the airline’s own site |
| Related | Fees and fare restrictions |
| Help line | 1-855-365-0395 |
Side by side
| Airline | Entry-level fare | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | Basic Economy (also shown as Main Basic) | Compare change, cancel and same-day options by fare |
| American Airlines | Basic Economy | Check whether changes are allowed on your fare |
| United Airlines | Basic Economy | Check cancellation, credit and same-day terms |
| Southwest Airlines | Basic (four fares: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra) | Basic credits are shorter-lived than Choice credits; Basic is excluded from same-day change |
| Alaska Airlines | Saver | Check change and cancellation rules for Saver |
| JetBlue Airways | Blue Basic | Check change and cancellation terms for Blue Basic |
| Air Canada | Entry-level economy fare (confirm the name on your ticket) | Flights to, from or within Canada can also fall under Canadian passenger protection rules |
| Lufthansa | Entry-level economy fare (confirm the name on your ticket) | Flights from or within the EU can also fall under EU passenger rights rules |
Using the table
Find your fare name on your receipt, then read that airline’s rules for exactly that fare. See fees and fare restrictions and credit expiration.
Step by step
- Find airline and fare name on your receipt.
- Open the airline’s rules for that fare.
- Check change, cancel, credit and baggage terms.
- Note the 24-hour window.
How major airlines handle policy comparisons
Fare names and rules differ by airline and change often. Use these notes as a starting point and confirm your own fare.
Delta Air Lines
Its Basic Economy fare (also shown as Main Basic) is usually the most restricted option. For policy comparisons, check the rules attached to your own fare on Delta Air Lines’s website or app.
American Airlines
Basic Economy is generally the least flexible fare, while higher fares allow more. For policy comparisons, what you can do still depends on your fare, so confirm it before you decide.
United Airlines
Its Basic Economy fare is usually the most restricted option. For policy comparisons, check the rules attached to your own fare on United Airlines’s website or app.
Southwest Airlines
The four fare types differ on credits and same-day changes, and Basic credits have a shorter validity. For policy comparisons, what you can do still depends on your fare, so confirm it before you decide.
Alaska Airlines
Its Saver fare is usually the most restricted option. For policy comparisons, check the rules attached to your own fare on Alaska Airlines’s website or app.
JetBlue Airways
Blue Basic is the most restricted, while Blue fares allow more. For policy comparisons, what you can do still depends on your fare, so confirm it before you decide.
Air Canada
Its entry-level economy fare is usually the most restricted option. For policy comparisons, check the rules attached to your own fare on Air Canada’s website or app.
Lufthansa
Flights from or within the EU may also fall under EU passenger rights rules. For policy comparisons, what you can do still depends on your fare, so confirm it before you decide.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating all airlines alike.
- Relying on old information.
- Ignoring the fare name.
Questions people ask
Is this table current?
Rules change; confirm with the airline.
Which is most flexible?
Depends on the fare you pick.
Do foreign airlines follow U.S. rules?
On flights serving the U.S., certain DOT rules apply, and other rules may too.
Ready to sort this out?
Call the travel assistance line and have your confirmation code and travel dates ready.
Call 1-855-365-0395Independent travel assistance line. Not an airline phone number.
Independent information service. VerdictSpot Travel Help is not an airline and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any airline. Airline names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the topics covered. Airline rules change often; confirm current terms for your own ticket. You can also manage many bookings yourself on the airline’s own website or app. If you call, ask the agent to explain any service fee before you agree to anything.